Food is a universal need, but what we find appetizing is not. Tradition, religion, social status and affluence can influence our tastes. And in the world of extreme cuisine, one person's meat can truly be another person's poison. In this episode of Taboo, we'll experience some of mankind's forbidden foods. Whether it's feasting on the world's largest spider, devouring duck embryo, munching on animal penis - when it comes to cuisine, taste is in the mouth of the beholder.

In some societies around the world, snacking on cockroaches, dining on worms and swallowing the still-beating heart of a snake are traditions and even considered delicacies. In these episode of Taboo, travel across cultural borders to explore extreme food customs that are acceptable in some cultures but forbidden or reviled in others.

See what makes people radically reshape their bodies - from neck stretching in Thailand to breast ironing in Cameroon to silicone implants that enhance American male physiques.
Many examples of extreme body modification are scarification, branding, implants, and splitting tongues.Scarification is preformed by pealing away layers of the skin, and allowing it to heal into the specific design. Some scarifications can be almost as intricate as a tattoo.Although most people who choose to get scarification done, do not get tattooed in the process.However, ink can be applied before the healing process begins allowing it to heal over. This does not usually become as vibrant as the tattoos you often see.There are also the options of waiting until the scar flattens, which can often take between one to two years to complete. After which, you would be able to introduce vibrant colors into the scarred design.

For some people, improving one's appearance can lead to extreme body modification. Meet the "Vampire Woman" - she's a lawyer, a mother, and the world's most modified female, with 96% tattoo coverage, several sets of horns, arm implants, and 25 piercings. Meanwhile, artist Keroppy is leading the way in the trendy body modification industry. His newest exhibition features "bagelheads," people with what looks like a small bagel protruding from their foreheads.

Our tastes reveal who we are- and who we aren’t. This program injects a perspective-changing awareness into conventional views of food, searching the globe for culinary traditions that disgust some and delight others. From rotten shark meat in Iceland to a goat fetus in India, from cooked rat in Togo to a stew made from bull genitals in Taiwan, the video showcases numerous unusual delicacies. It also reminds us that while mainstream, Anglo-American culture takes a dim view of dietary customs beyond its horizons, that kind of squeamishness can be a two-way street.

Misfits are people who live outside of their cultural norms. Some are born into that situation, while others seek it. Meet Dave, an Australian man convinced his right leg didn't belong on his body, so he deliberately froze it beyond recovery, forcing doctors to amputate. In Bangladesh, river nomads make their living with snake charming and traditional healing. Viewed as sorcerers and sham artists by many, they are shunned and often not welcome on land.

In most of the world, marriage is confined to one man and one woman. But in some cultures, marriage has broader meanings. Taboo investigates controversies surrounding marriage including child marriage in India, multiple marriages in Togo, and homosexual marriage in England.

Explore the line where fantasy and reality blur. In California, meet a grown man role-playing as an adult baby, complete with diaper, pacifier and customized baby furniture to make his fantasy life more real. In Japan, a champion kick boxer has a passion for dressing up as female animation characters in the boxing ring. A Floridian father divides his time between his real life and a virtual life online populated with avatars  engaging in cybersex with his virtual family.

This is a show a friend of mine participated in about the art of reborning. Sharon does great work and you can find her at:
www.sharonsspecialtreasures.webs.com
and on facebook at:
Sharon's Special Treasures
Thank you for watching!

Join City Lights and host Chelsey Reist as we tour this years "Taboo Naughty But Nice Show" at the Vancouver Convention Centre.
If you're looking to spice up your life with some pole dancing lessons, intimate board games, or want to woo your manwoman with the latest cooking recipes, we've got it all and more.